Last March, my husband and I took a trip to Ireland. With the exception of our actual flight to ‘The Emerald Isle’, we had no plans and no reservations. Just a travel guidebook and a hope that we could find Wi-Fi to locate good places to eat and sleep for the night If you ever want […]
French
Udon Noodles in Consomme
As winter’s icy grip holds fast, a big bowl of warm, comforting, and thick noodles in a rich and fragrant consommé is exactly what you need. Thick and chewy udon noodles are perfectly adapted for soups. Frequently, it’s served in a mildly flavored broth called kakejiru – made up of dashi, mirin, and soy sauce. However, […]
Sesame Crusted Ahi Tuna Nicoise Salad
Don’t you just love when you can ‘have your cake and eat it too’? Now I know that phrase can mean different things to different people depending on what you’re talking about; but for me that means a meal that’s delicious, filling, and healthy! A salad doesn’t have to be boring or make you feel like […]
Shallot Tarte Tatin
Last week I featured a super Easy Bouillabaisse from a cooking class my husband and I attened in Ireland last March. Well… I’ve got another one for you. Now you may be wondering why I’m just getting to posting these recipes now – 8 months later. Admittedly I am a procrastinator; but I’m at least a […]
Lillet Blanc
Last week my good friend, Seung Hee introduced me to Lillet Blanc – a French aperitif, this fortified wine is a blend of Bordeaux wines and citrus liqueur. She handed me the glass and I could immediately smell the citrus. One taste and I thought, ‘where have you been my whole life?!’ It was bright, crisp, and refreshing – everything a great summer drink should be. Simply serve the Lillet Blanc over ice and with a twist of orange – sit back, relax, and enjoy the summer.
Lemongrass Pork Bánh Mì
Introducing my all-time favorite sandwich – Lemongrass Pork Banh Mi. I could eat these babies morning, noon, and night! I was visiting our local banh mi shop for lunch like I had a serious addiction. The place is a hole in the wall (always the best places), barely enough room to walk-in to order, always a line out the door rain or shine, and all they serve is banh mi. I love the place – but I wanted to make my own, that way no one (except for maybe my husband) would know the extent of my addiction.
The process took a few tests in the kitchen to develop a marinade that I felt had a nice depth of flavor. After several tries, I found a combo that hit on all of the bright and vibrant flavors in Vietnamese cooking – Yes! Moist and flavorful pork paired with tangy Do Chua (Vietnamese pickled daikon and carrots), heat from jalapeños, smokiness from Sriracha mayo, and crusty French baguette – it was game on…I knew how to cook my own fix! So delicious – you’ve got to try these!